The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-17
ENFORCING THE LIQUOR LAW.

tons as the Lyra, the Mannerchor,
and others of that character which were
in existence years before the present
liquor law was, because some of the
members may drink beer and wine after the
hour of IL o'clock P. NJ, has not sufficient
common sense to be intrusted with police
powers Such ''raids' are an outrage, and are
as great violation of the spirit and purpose
of the law under which they are assumed to
be made as the permission to public saloons
to sell intoxicants after IL o'clock at night
or on Sundays, which was the policy in the
administration of the liquor law against which
every decent, law-abiding citizen protested,
and to put a stop to which the old Police
Board was summarily removed.
The "raids" upon these societies were begun
under the old board, and, upon their face,
appeared to be undertaken in the interest of
the Liquor League, for the purpose of bring
ing the law into dsrepute. This is an old
game, and has been practiced in this city for
many years with great success. If law
abiding public sentiment demanded the en-
forcement of the law against the public
saloons so that they shall be closed on Sun
days. a complacent police board has been
found to attempt to shut down all business
on Sunday, and to harass people whose neces-
sary trade does not and necessarily cannot
interfere with due and decent observance of
the day. If the aw-abiding people of the
city demand that the public saloons shall
stop the sale of liquor after IL o'clock at
night, complaisant police board, or a
chuckie-headed police officer or possibly
one in the employ or interest of
the Liquor League, Immediately pro-
ceeds to such indecent and unnecessary
extremes as the trading" Of the Lyra, the
M@nnerchor and other societies of like char
| acter An Interpretation of the law which
would justify police officer in intruding
into regular meeting Of any one Of these
| societies, would warrant him in walking into
a gentleman residence, where he might be
entertaining company of his friends. and
! giving them a glass of wine with the supper
| to which he had invited them. Such a read
| ing and Interpretation of the law would war
rant policeman in going into church and
stopping the administration of the Lords sup
per on Sunday, upon the plea that the admin
istrators were giving away intoxicating liquors.
| Not only is there no demand for such an ad-
ministration Of law, but it is against public
policy, and can only result in disaster to the
cause of good government and public morals.
Of course, no society or no combination of
men has the right to associate together for the
purpose of evading the law. No society has
the right to turn itself into barroom, and
without taxation or limit, carry on traffic in
intoxicants. Any police officer with ordinary
sense, and any judge with average brains and
conscience, will be amply able to apply the law
in such cases, should any exist with justice
and vigor But to "raid" old-established SO
cieties, which are meeting in their ordinary
and usual way and observing the customs
with which they have been familiar for years
and which infringe in nowise upon the rights
of others or the good of the poublc, is al
abuse of power that cannot be too strongly
condemned.
If the police force is animated by singlenes
of purpose in the enforcement of the liquo
law, there can be no difficulty in doing it eff
| e. L.
for the special purpose of regulating the pub
lie saloon traffic. 1t has no other reason 70
existence than this. The law was framed b,
the liquor-dealers themselves, passed by
Democratic Legislature and approved by
Democratic Governor. It is in no sense
. Temperance" law, or a law in the interests o
for the benefit Of Temperance" people. It
, liquor dealers law, devised and passed fo
the sole purpose of regulating the publ
mind by those charged with the administrs
ton and execution of it, there need be II
} difficulty. It's provisions should be rigorousl
enforced against the saloons; it is the saloor
keepers law, and they should be made to ODE
it in letter and spirit. The law should not b
diverted from its plain purpose and mad
the instrument OF harassment to law-abidin
and honorable citizens, merely for the benef
Of law breaking and law-defying saloon keel
ers.
THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.